Flexible tool



June 10, 192,

A.s.MWcHELL FLEXIBLE T'OOL Filed sept. 20.

ATTORNEY Patented dune l0, W24.

ALLISTER STEWART MITCHELL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO CALIFOR- \NIA COTTON MILLS COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

T o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLISTER STEWART MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oale and, in the county of Alameda and State of alifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Tools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved apparatus for forming upholstery.

The method of using this type of apparatus has already been described in my copending applications Serial Numbers 609,608 and 622,909.

The object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture and efficientin operation.

A further object is to provide an apparatus which is split transversely and will yield to conform to the shape of the pipes in the seat back, and which 1s provided with cuttin edges at the end thereof to sever the pa ding.

Furt er objects and advantages Will be more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description.

In the annexed drawing in which my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in sectlon of my apparatus inserted into a seat back.

Figure 2 is a plan View of my apparatus in its normal position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my apparatus in the closed position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4`-4 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, m invention comprises a tube 1 which is pre erably eut away at one end so as to form the points 2 with the space 3 between them. The tube is split throughout its len th to form the two` sections 4 and 5 whlch overlap throughout the greater part of their length. One end ofthe sections 4 and 5 is fiared outwardly as at 6 and 7 respectively to form a mouth for the reception of the padding. n

As a means of holding the sections 4 and 5 apart I have provided a spring wire 8 to which the flared parts 6 and 7 are secured and which encircles the mouth of the tube. When the sections 4 and 5 are compressed the wire 8 will bend and as promptly as the sections are released will return them to FLEXIBLE TOOL.

Application filed September 20, 1923. Serial N20. 663,834.

their normal position. A collar 9 is secured to the section 5 and encircles the section 4, thus acting as a stop to limit the outward movement of the sections. The outer adjoining edges 10 and 11 of the sections 4 and 5 respectively are sharpened and when the sections are compressed act as scissors to cut the padding.

In the \use of the device the filling 12 is made up in long pieces. They can be any desired ength. This filling may be of any desired form and may be made of an desired material, such as cotton. With thls de' vice it does not have to be reenforced in any manner. In the use of the device the end of the strip 12 is inserted when the sections are expanded, thus giving plenty of room for this insertion. The material is inserted so as to fill the tube. The tube is then grasped by the hand preferably near the lower end' and s ueezed so as to bring the sections 4 and 5 1n their contracted position. The end of the tube is then inserted in one of the tubes and the tube pushed completely into the pipe. The operator then takes his thumb and finger and presses the cover of Cil the cushion at the point where the slot 3 in the tube is located, thus holding the filling 12. The holder is then withdrawn and slides along the stri 12 of filling material until the end is reac ed. The filling material is then placed between the cutting edges 10 and 11 and severed by compressing the sections 4 and 5.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming upholstery comprising a tube for the filling material consisting of two sections placed side by side and overlapping, said sections adapted to be moved relatively to compress the fillingtherein so that it may be inserted in the up olstery tube, and a spring wire to which the ends of said section are secured and adapted to normally move them to their expanded position when the tube is released.

2. An apparatus for forming upholstery comprising a tube for the filling materlal consisting of two sectionsplaced side by side and overla pin said sections adapted to be moved reiative y to compress the fillin therein so that it may be inserted. 1n the upiiolstery tube, a spring wire to whlch the ends of said section are secured and adapted to normall move them to their expanded position w en the tube is released, and a coller formed on one ol seid sections and surrounding the other section to limit tlie expansion of seid sections.

3. An apparatus for forming upholstery comprising a, tuloe for the lilling materiel conslsting of two sections placed side luy side endA overlapping, said sections adapted to loe moved relatively to compress the lillin therein so tliet it may loe .inserted in tlie 10 up Olst/ery tubes.' at spring wire to which the Memes ends oie seid section :ire secured and adapted to normally move them to their expanded position when the tube is released, the outer ends of seid sections being cut ewey to `lorm a space tlnere between and the adjoining edges of seid space loeingr slierpened'to -form e cutting edge.,

l'n testimony whereof. ll eilix my signotnre 'ALLSTER STEWART Mll'llCltllELll., 

